Laparoscopic cystectomy in pregnancy, a viable solution – A 14 years series

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and maternal fetal outcome of laparoscopic surgery in the management of ovarian mass in pregnant women and the usage of analgesia in postoperative period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study which was carried out at department of O&G, Putrajaya Hospital. A total of 120 cases of ovarian mass in pregnancy between Jan 2000–December 2014 were evaluated. 115 patients had undergone laparoscopy cystectomy/salpingo-oophorectomy. Women’s age, parity, gestational age, surgical technique, operative findings and time, estimated blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, post operative pain score, usage of analgesia, complications of surgery, outcome of the pregnancy and histopathology reports were evaluated. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Outcome of the pregnancy and post operative pain score and usage of analgesic were evaluated. The mean gestational week at the time of surgery was 14 weeks 1 day (±2 weeks 1 day). The duration of surgery was 87.4 mins (±34.8 mins) with average blood loss of 110.3 ml (±32.0). Median size of ovarian cyst was 6 cm (IQR 2 cm). 2 cases converted to laparotomy. Only 2 cases were reported with second trimester loss which was diagnosed after 4 weeks and 10 weeks respectively. 5 women received tocolytic agent post operatively, all of them delivered at term. The mean length of hospitalization was 1.51 day (±0.597). The average gestational age of delivery was 37.78 (±3.42) mean birth weight 2.97 kg (±0.65 kg). There was one intrauterine growth restriction baby with birth weight of 1.89 kg at 35 weeks of gestation and another baby with bladder exstrophy with ambiguous genitalia which was not related to surgery. The mean of pain score was 1.5 (±1.6) over 10. 87.9% of the women had mild pain which only 64.6% require paracetamol or no analgesia. CONCLUSION: Majority of women with ovarian masses in pregnancy can be treated with ensured safety and reduced morbidity using the endoscopic approach.